03/27 Luke 18:9-12
Then Jesus told this story to some who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a dishonest tax collector. 11 The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don’t sin, I don’t commit adultery, 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
ARROGANCE
It is good that we know Jesus. Being in the family of God we are called to be ambassadors of Christ. He wants us to seek the lost, to share the Gospel. We don’t judge the world because that is God’s job. We are called to be salt and light and to share Jesus with everyone we meet. Note that there is great arrogance in the Pharisee. We should learn to lead humble lives and be the emissary of light and life.
Author - Clay Corvin
03/26 Luke 18:6-8
Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this evil judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end, so don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when I, the Son of Man, return, how many will I find who have faith?”
FAITH
Have faith in God. Jesus will see you through and when the end comes Jesus will be standing there to greet you. Have faith in God. The Lord will not disappoint you. We have an eternal relationship. Have faith in God.
03/25 Luke 18:1-5
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who was a godless man with great contempt for everyone. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, appealing for justice against someone who had harmed her. 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she wore him out. ‘I fear neither God nor man,’ he said to himself, 5 ‘but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'”
STAY
Stay the course as you seek to live a Godly life. Do not give up on Jesus. Keep asking. Keep seeking. You will find Him and His direction for your life. If you need a miracle keep talking with Jesus. Let Him know of your need. Make it the center of your thought. Talk to the Lord and He will hear you every time you speak with Him. Do not give up. Hang in there.
03/24 Luke 17:30-37
Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns. 31 On that day a person outside the house must not go into the house to pack. A person in the field must not return to town. 32 Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it. 34 That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken away, and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. ” 36 37 “Lord, where will this happen?” the disciples asked. Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.”
NOW
There is no need for Christ to wait to return for all the signs of His return are evident. Now is the time to turn to Jesus. Now is the time to grow your faith. There may be no tomorrow. Now is when you are called to serve Him.
03/23 Luke 17:25-29
But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation. 26 “When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah’s day. 27 In those days before the flood, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all. 28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business — eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building — 29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
REJECTED
The world has always rejected Jesus. It clamors against faith. It rails about how foolish and misdirected Christians are. They claim there is no god. They are the foolish ones. Tragically they will be sadly mistaken at His return and then it will be too late. Persecution is the world’s way. Forgiveness is the way of the Cross-. But when Christ returns it will all be over in an instant.
03/22 Luke 17:22-24
Later he talked again about this with his disciples. “The time is coming when you will long to share in the days of the Son of Man, but you won’t be able to,” he said. 23 “Reports will reach you that the Son of Man has returned and that he is in this place or that. Don’t believe such reports or go out to look for him. 24 For when the Son of Man returns, you will know it beyond all doubt. It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the sky.
HERE
When Jesus returns HE will be here. Wherever you are Jesus will be there. We cannot comprehend what it will be like but it will be as HE says. When Christ returns you won’t have to look for HIM because He will be there.
03/21 Luke 17:20-21
One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is among you. ”
IN
The Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus operate in us. Both are with us as we live our life moment by moment. The Lord misses nothing. He hears and sees all that we do. Live now. Live then. Jesus is alive and He lives in you and me.
03/20 Luke 17:15-19
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God, I’m healed!” 16 He fell face down on the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Does only this foreigner return to give glory to God?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has made you well.”
GRATITUDE
Gratitude is one of the greatest of the gifts that the Lord gives us. When we express our gratitude it underscores our faith. As we live with gratitude for the activity of God/Holy Spirit/Jesus in our life it enables us to grow. Humility is a fertile ground for out faith in Jesus to grow. Humility is necessary for us to learn. Love the Lord and cultivate an attitude of gratitude in your daily walk.
03/19 Luke 17:11-14
As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, their leprosy disappeared.
HEALED
Jesus is the great healer. What are you struggling with? Jesus will heal you. What has rained on your parade? Jesus will heal you. Seek the Lord and by faith accept His gracious gift of salvation. Jesus is Lord and He will heal you.
03/18 Luke 17:7-10
“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, he doesn’t just sit down and eat. 8 He must first prepare his master’s meal and serve him his supper before eating his own. 9 And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. 10 In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty.'”
OBEDIENT
Strive to be an obedient servant. Seek the Lord and obey Him in everything you do. Call upon His name and presence in prayer. Praise the Lord for His presence in your life. Then do what He says for you to do. Be about your master’s business and He will be with you.